Some fine Tele blues playin'! Tab Benoit content.

[mistermullens]

Had to post this.

[chabby]

I'm sorry - I watched this and wondered if you were joking. He's a good enough player, vocalist/stylist, and he expresses himself decently but man, his sound was terrible in this video. His playing is a little too sloppy for me, even when I'm in the mood for the most stripped down blues. I liked his playing alright, don't get me wrong, it had a certain charm, but again, organic sound aside, he needs some reverb and overdrive/gain, otherwise why not just play acoutsic? Maybe its not sloppy - but sure could benefit from a different amp hat's actually being saturated. You certainly have a right to your opinion - just not my cup of tea. But I like him as an artist if that makes sense. At first, I was thinking...maybe its refreshing, but into it a ways I had to be honest with my opinion. Not that anyone is asking for it, but I'd like to hear everyone elses comments too. If nothing else it will help me grow as an artist to see how well this is accepted.
Please don't take any offense at my opinion, that's all it is. I wanted to like it, and I'm not that hard to please either.

[craigoslo]

Is it just me, or is his amp overdriving perfectly for this type of music. I think if you check out this style, that is THE sound. I find that inexperienced players often rely on too much distortion. You have to find a sound that fits the music. I once saw a clip of BB and a rock guitarist (don't remember who). BB took a solo with quite a clean sound, and then the other guy started playing with this death metal sound. The most tasteless thing I've ever seen.

[morroben]

I liked it...raw and to the point. Plus I just love any excuse to look at that Thinline.

[Breen]

That's Mr Benoit's style man, just enjoy it. Cajun juking~

[shades]

Good stuff,oh yah. Tab Benoit puts on a live show that you won't soon forget...no frills or such just straight up cajun blues. He makes you feel right at home on the bayou no matter where you are. Nice enough guy too.
Thanks for sharing MM.

[musicmatty]

Originally Posted by chabby

I'm sorry - I watched this and wondered if you were joking. He's a good enough player, vocalist/stylist, and he expresses himself decently but man, his sound was terrible in this video. His playing is a little too sloppy for me, even when I'm in the mood for the most stripped down blues. I liked his playing alright, don't get me wrong, it had a certain charm, but again, organic sound aside, he needs some reverb and overdrive/gain, otherwise why not just play acoutsic? Maybe its not sloppy - but sure could benefit from a different amp hat's actually being saturated. You certainly have a right to your opinion - just not my cup of tea. But I like him as an artist if that makes sense. At first, I was thinking...maybe its refreshing, but into it a ways I had to be honest with my opinion. Not that anyone is asking for it, but I'd like to hear everyone elses comments too. If nothing else it will help me grow as an artist to see how well this is accepted.
Please don't take any offense at my opinion, that's all it is. I wanted to like it, and I'm not that hard to please either.

************************************************** ********

As for his sound..he's playin with his fingers only..so that accounts for a lot of what is in his tone or lack of. Also, he is playin a Tele Thinline but has 2 Gibson style pups in the guitar..so really, there is no familiar Tele sound to begin with. Yeah...a little to bland and primative for me, even though I generaly like the Blues.

[podboy3]

I don't know where the Gibson humbuckers are, they sure look like Wide Range pups to me.

as for the sound, I could not imagine this with his amp breaking up more then it is, he could probably get away with a hair more overdrive but too much and I think it would be sounding like garbage. to me it sounds just like it should, some old school no frills electric blues.

[slickschoppers]

yep,,, I too was under the impression that they are wide range not gibson humbuckers....

I like the sound..

REALLY LIKE IT!!!

[garyd5158]

+1 Tab Benoit fan here. His "Sea Saint Sessions" CD is my favorite.

[jedi]

I dig it!

[chabby]

Glad to see the opinions here because I'm looking for good sound myself and am predominantly a blues player too. I hate too much OD as well, but I guess his playing suffers a bit from a lack of sustain. Or maybe too much dissonant string bending. I like bending to pitch more than bending to off pitch. But its just an approach/style I know. Jimmy Vaughans sound is reminiscent of this same thang.....and I'm not a real fan, though I love who he is and what he does. Just not my cup of tea. Guess when I think of real good blues tone with a thinline and buckers I think of the amazing soul dripping emotional playing/sound of this guy:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4562...eature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4562...eature=related

[wylde4canes]

Originally Posted by chabby

Glad to see the opinions here because I'm looking for good sound myself and am predominantly a blues player too. I hate too much OD as well, but I guess his playing suffers a bit from a lack of sustain. Or maybe too much dissonant string bending. I like bending to pitch more than bending to off pitch. But its just an approach/style I know. Jimmy Vaughans sound is reminiscent of this same thang.....and I'm not a real fan, though I love who he is and what he does. Just not my cup of tea. Guess when I think of real good blues tone with a thinline and buckers I think of the amazing soul dripping emotional playing/sound of this guy:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4562...eature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4562...eature=related

I can't think of Johnny Lang as blues. He is almost a soul artist with serious blues chops. Long Time fan, myself.

[chabby]

Guess you are right in a way - he's a soulful blues artist how about that?

[mowcheeba]

Really liked the song, great voice but the guitar playing
did not impress me at all. I was expecting more....

[mlove3]

hmm...
I can see boh sides of the argument here but I'll go with I like it, and here's why.
i used to hate this kinda thing, a lil sloppy and raw. but in the right context - 3 beers into a juke joint bar dancing with a girl you just met- this is JUST what the doctor ordered. YouTube does NOT put you there.
one thing aboutMr. Benoit though, I bought his live cd and was very disapointed in the mix, all guitar and vox, rhythm section sounds miniscule. c'mon Tab, ya need that rhythm!

[Teleglide]

I want to like Tab, and I think he puts his heart and soul into his music, but his playing often sounds jerky and constricted to me. I've also noticed his bends aren't accurate and he often seems to accidentally bump other strings when he's bending. I'm not talking about Albert King-style two string bends - more like bad notes in the background. Buddy Guy also tends to overbend, but for some reason it sounds better when he does it.

I love his 'keep it raw' attitude and I like his singing, but his playing rarely does it for me. I'm sure I would feel different at a live show - I've heard he's at his best live.

[chabby]

I do like Tab don't get me wrong. I'm just not into his guitar work on a high level. I echo Teleglide's sentiments in reard to bending. I love bending, but bending for bending's sake was one of the things I have worked long and hard to guard against in my own playing.
Accuracy of bends is critical to my ears, but then I listen to music differently than other's might. When I don't bend accuractely, I know it, can feel it, it bothers me. And the jerky non melodic approach is fine....occaisionally. But even Neil Young in all his thrashing about attacks has such a keen sense of melody he almost always comes back to it and is anchored to it. But I'll be honest, post 80's Neil Young Electric guitar doesn't interest me, but thats another subject. And you are right Teleglide, Buddy Guy can get away with it because he's got such a keen sense as both a performer and a musician. He knows it when he overbends, even does it on purpose. I love Tabs vocals and even some of his recordings....just didn't really admire this one that much. I liked it...I just didn't love it. It made me wonder a couple times about his ability, or sound man...or sound in general. At first I just thought..owch...kind of marginal sound on this. But then as I continued to watch I realized that was only maybe part of it. But I'm being overly critical too because I'm a player....not a guy dancing with his sweeheart out in front.

[Strat62]

I'm not going to comment on his playing style other than it does have a certain raw charm to it, but he should have at least gotten the damned thing in tune.

[ryokan]

Yeah, this reminds me of the many painful 'blues' music shows i've been forced to sit thru in bars. When blues is good, it's great, but when it's bad, ouch...

[rhh7]

Guess I like raw, this was great...to my taste. YMMV.

[smokerjoe34]

Pretty cool but I just listened to a guy named Sean Costello up at the top of the page and whether he's playin' a tele or his smokin' goldtop I'm down on his stuff !! I am so bummed he's gone !!

[mowcheeba]

Originally Posted by smokerjoe34

Pretty cool but I just listened to a guy named Sean Costello up at the top of the page and whether he's playin' a tele or his smokin' goldtop I'm down on his stuff !! I am so bummed he's gone !!

+1
I've been listening to Hard Luck Woman 5 times in a row....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSYmZea1H1Y

[1977CJ5]

Originally Posted by rhh7

Guess I like raw, this was great...to my taste. YMMV.

Me too. Love that sound.

[bluesmanmartin]

Very raw and bluesy. I enjoyed it.

I think he nailed the sound he was going for, a recreation of some blues juke joint in Mississippi. Raw sound with powerful yet simple undertones.

Martin...

[bottleneck]

Sounds like the real deal to me.

[johnnytronics]

Nice Retro sound! I dig it.

[AJ Love]

Tab Benoit is pretty cool, but if y'all wanna see some GREAT Blues playing on a Telecaster, you gotta check out Joel Patterson outta Chicago

[backalleyblues]

Sounds like he had to turn down a little for that gig, usually he has that Super Reverb up around 7-8, and you KNOW those amps get crunchy at that point. I do know, though, he rarely cracks the reverb open. As far as his style, I think he intentionally playing it very raw for effect, 'cuz I've seen him play a lot cleaner than this. That said, I like this video, thanks!!!

Franc Robert

[bottleneck]

I don't think there is ANY traditional blues player who is 100% clean 100% of the time - that's why the blues is SO GOOD! In fact I don't think there is a traditional blues player who EVER played the same number the same way...twice...EVER!
How dull life would be if everything was perfectly predictable...how wonderfully human it is to appreciate the flaws....

[psychotelepathic]

Originally Posted by chabby

I'm sorry - I watched this and wondered if you were joking. He's a good enough player, vocalist/stylist, and he expresses himself decently but man, his sound was terrible in this video. His playing is a little too sloppy for me, even when I'm in the mood for the most stripped down blues. I liked his playing alright, don't get me wrong, it had a certain charm, but again, organic sound aside, he needs some reverb and overdrive/gain, otherwise why not just play acoutsic? Maybe its not sloppy - but sure could benefit from a different amp hat's actually being saturated. You certainly have a right to your opinion - just not my cup of tea. But I like him as an artist if that makes sense. At first, I was thinking...maybe its refreshing, but into it a ways I had to be honest with my opinion. Not that anyone is asking for it, but I'd like to hear everyone elses comments too. If nothing else it will help me grow as an artist to see how well this is accepted.
Please don't take any offense at my opinion, that's all it is. I wanted to like it, and I'm not that hard to please either.

Well this is definitely not his best live clip, nowhere close. He came to Charlotte and played the Double Door, blew the roof off the place. I also see Fenders on this stage and he's a diehard Matchless guy now, incredible tone live. Tab is definitely not sloppy, just sounds that way here.

[bosstone]

The guy was sharp, flat, sloppy and the tone was terrible. Sorry.

[cmm71]

It's raw, but I think it works. Not gonna be my favorite sound but it's different.

I checked out the Sean Costello video and liked that one quite a bit. I also followed the link and came across his version of You Wear It Well which is very, very good.

I have long felt Johnny Lang was a poser...he's to blues what Billy Ray Cyrus was to country. Just my opinion.

[Spidercaster]

also, a Youtube clip thru computer speakers is not the best way to hear someones tone.

[chabby]

also, a Youtube clip thru computer speakers is not the best way to hear someones tone.
__________________

Very true - and that's what I was partially trying to say....couldn't tell where the things bothering my ears was coming from....bad playing, or bad sound....or both. But it hurt, kind of like fingernails on a chalkboard.....or one of the dead shows where they didn't have the "X factor" goin on that night. I played a couple live clips for someone once from a grateful dead show to a person who'd never heard them before and she said.."yuuuuck....shouldnt they no how to play their instruments?" I laughed it off and tried to explain the whole thing to her but she just didn't get it. And, I have to admit...it was as bad as some kid who'd just got his first electric guitar and amp for christmas-LOL!
This wasn't that bad....but damn....I wouldn't have been proud of it and I get paid far les than he-LOL!

[bosstone]

You can tell that the sound coming out the amp was just plain bad.

[JohnK24]

Tab's amazing..I have many of his releases, "Sea Saint Sessions" is my fav. That clip was very raw and sounded like the Super Reverb was having some issues...just no sustain and blaah...then again, a cheap digital camera isn't going to give you a great reproduction of his tone...especially since he plays LOUD and overloads those little mics.

[chabby]

First notes I heard I just thought...thats a super reverb? Where's the verb? It was so dry and flat...sounded more like an ep Valve Jr. LOL! I love a guitar staright into an amp and rarely use any effects myself, but dang.....he needed to borrow a tweed deluxe from someone.

[chabby]

Here's what a Super Reverb should sound like:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBo_d...eature=related

[MickM]

Tab seems like the kind of player that you go jam with after a gig and at 6am he still hasn't played the same tune twice while you've been playing and moving around the same 10 licks since you started.